Assembly for locking an oven door

ABSTRACT

An assembly for locking an oven door mounted on a body of a range and movable between open and closed positions, is provided that comprises a mount bracket adapted to be secured to the range body, with the mount bracket having a base and a cradle protruding below the base and disposed above an oven top wall. A latch member is coupled to the mount bracket for movement relative to the bracket. A locking device is disposed at least partially within the cradle and includes a thermally responsive element and a locking member coupled to the thermally responsive element. A heat transfer member has a first end adapted to be secured to the oven top wall and a second end secured to the cradle, wherein the locking member prevents the latch member from moving from a position where the door is latched and forced against the range body by the latch member toward a position wherein the door can be opened, when the thermally responsive member is actuated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to oven locks, and moreparticularly, to manually operated, non-automatic oven locks for usewith self-cleaning ovens.

BACKGROUND

Self-cleaning ovens which are incorporated into self-standing ranges arewell known. Such ovens conventionally have an oven door which ishingedly secured to a range body. The oven door can be opened to gainaccess to an oven cavity, with one or more heating elements disposedwithin the oven cavity. The oven door may also be closed, to close theoven cavity during cooking or self-cleaning cycles.

Self-cleaning ovens can include a locking mechanism to ensure that theoven door is not opened during self-cleaning cycles. Some mechanismsinclude a bi-metallic actuator, of various configurations, that ismounted on a top wall of the oven cavity. Accordingly, duringself-cleaning cycles, the bi-metallic actuator can be heated to veryhigh temperatures, in excess of 500° C. (932° F.), for longer periods oftime than that recommended by the manufacturers of bi-metallicactuators. As a result, degradation of the bi-metallic actuators canoccur. More particularly, the molecular bond securing the two metalstogether can degrade or delaminate.

Conventional oven door locking mechanisms also include those havingmultiple links to latch and seal the oven door in a closed position.Systems of this type tend to be relatively complex and relatively large.

Conventional ovens can include one or more electrical switches, forinstance to provide an indication that the oven door is closed, witheach switch mounted directly on a mount bracket which in turn is mountedon a top wall of the oven cavity. Accordingly, insulating material suchas Nomex® or fiberglass sheets or the equivalent is typically placedbetween the switches and the mount bracket to act as a heat shield toprevent exceeding the operating temperature of the switches. Theinsulating material adds cost to the assembly.

SUMMARY

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, an assembly isprovided for locking an oven door of a range in a closed position thatcloses an oven cavity defined in part by an oven top wall, with the ovendoor being movably mounted on a body of the range. The assemblycomprises a mount bracket adapted to be secured to the range body, withthe mount bracket having a base and a cradle protruding below the baseand disposed above the oven top wall. A latch member is coupled to themount bracket for movement relative thereto. A locking device isdisposed at least partially within the cradle, with the locking deviceincluding a thermally responsive element and a locking member coupled tothe thermally responsive element. The assembly further includes a heattransfer member having a first end adapted to be secured to the oven topwall and a second end secured to the cradle, wherein the locking memberis operably effective for preventing the latch member from moving from aposition wherein the oven door is latched and forced against the body ofthe range by the latch member toward a position wherein the door can beopened, when the thermally responsive member is actuated.

The cradle can be dome-shaped and can include a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced slots formed therein. The thermally responsivemember can be a bi-metallic disk and it can be disposed within andsupported by the cradle. The locking member can be a pin and can includetabs that engage the thermally responsive member and can move upward andprotrude above the base when the thermally responsive member isactuated, wherein the latch member is prevented from moving from theposition wherein the oven door is latched and forced against the body ofthe range toward a position wherein the door can be opened.

The assembly can further include a handle lever pivotally coupled to thebase for rotation relative to the base, with the handle lever beingcoupled to the latch member and operably effective for moving the latchmember when the handle lever is rotated manually. The assembly canfurther include a handle that snaps onto the handle lever.

An electrical switch can be mounted on the mount bracket at a positionabove the base and the electrical switch can include an actuation membermovable between an open position when the door is open and a closedposition when the door is closed, wherein the switch is actuated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an assembly isprovided for locking an oven door of a range in a closed position thatcloses an oven cavity defined in part by an oven top wall, with the ovendoor being movably mounted on a body of the range. The assemblycomprises a mount bracket adapted to be secured to the range body andthe mount bracket comprises a base and first, second and third aperturesformed therein. The assembly further includes a handle lever, havingfirst and second apertures formed therein, and a latch member disposedintermediate the mount bracket and the handle lever. The latch memberincludes an aperture formed therein, a first surface facing the mountbracket and a protruding member extending away from the first surfacetoward the mount bracket and into the first aperture in the mountbracket. The protruding member is movable within the first aperture inthe mount bracket.

The assembly further comprises a first connecting member that extendsthrough the first aperture in the handle, the aperture in the latchmember and the second aperture in the mount bracket. The firstconnecting member pivotally couples the handle lever and the latchmember to the mount bracket. A second connecting member extends throughthe second aperture in the handle lever, through the aperture in thelatch member and into the third aperture in the mount bracket. Thesecond connecting member is movable within the aperture and the latchmember and the third aperture in the mount bracket.

The pivotal coupling of the handle lever and the latch member to themount bracket with the first connecting member in combination with themovement of the protruding member within the first aperture in the mountbracket, the movement of the second connecting member within the secondand third apertures in the mount bracket, and the positioning of thesecond connecting member within the second aperture in the handle lever,permit the handle lever and the latch member to rotate together from afirst position wherein the oven door can be opened to a second positionwherein the latch member contacts the oven door and the oven door islatched and cannot be opened, and to permit the latch member totranslate relative to the handle lever and the mount bracket from thesecond position to a third position, as the handle lever rotates beyondthe second position, wherein the oven door is latched and forced againstthe body of the range.

According to other embodiments, the assembly can include one or more ofthe following features. The first aperture in the mount bracket can havea first arcuate portion and a second portion communicating with thearcuate portion and extending rearwardly away from the second portion.The protruding member moves within the arcuate portion of the firstaperture in the mount bracket as the handle lever and the latch memberrotate from the first to the second position and the protruding portionmoves rearwardly within the second portion of the first aperture in themount bracket as the latch member translates from the second position tothe third position.

The first aperture in the mount bracket can be generally T-shaped. Inthis embodiment, the arcuate portion of the first aperture in the mountbracket has first and second ends and the second portion of the firstaperture intersects the arcuate portion intermediate the first andsecond ends. Alternatively, the first aperture in the mount bracket canbe generally L-shaped. The aperture in the latch member can be generallyV-shaped and the third aperture in the mount bracket can be generallycrescent-shaped.

The aperture in the latch member can include a first leg and a secondleg communicating with the first leg, with the first and second legsforming an angle therebetween. The first connecting member is disposedwithin the first leg and the second connecting member is movable withinthe second leg as the latch member moves between the first, second andthird positions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a range isprovided that comprises a body including an oven top wall, an ovencavity disposed within the body, an oven door movably mounted on thebody wherein the oven door can be moved between an open position and aclosed position wherein the oven cavity is closed. The range furtherincludes a mount bracket secured to the range body. The mount brackethas a base and a cradle protruding below the base and disposed above theopen top wall. The range also includes a latch member coupled to themount bracket for movement relative thereto and a locking devicedisposed at least partially within the cradle. The locking deviceincludes a thermally responsive element and a locking member coupled tothe thermally responsive element. A heat transfer member has a first endsecured to the oven top wall and a second end secured to the cradle, andwherein the locking member is operably effective for preventing saidlatch member from moving from a position wherein the oven door islatched and forced against the body of the range by the latch membertoward a position wherein the door can be opened, when the thermallyresponsive member is actuated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become understood with regard to thefollowing description, appended claims and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a range that can incorporate anassembly for locking an oven door of the range in a closed position,according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded assembly view of the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 6C;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the latch member shown in FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6A is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIGS. 1-5, with thelatch member of the assembly in a first position that allows the ovendoor of the range to be opened and closed;

FIG. 6B is a plan view similar to FIG. 6A but with the latch member ofthe included assembly in a second position, wherein the oven door of therange is latched and cannot be opened;

FIG. 6C is a plan view similar to FIG. 6A but with the latch member ofthe included assembly in a third position wherein the oven door islatched and forced against the body of the range;

FIG. 6D is a plan view similar to FIG. 6A but with the latch member ofthe included assembly in a fourth position wherein the door is open andnot shown in FIG. 6D and the position of the latch member and handle issuch that the oven self-cleaning cycle cannot be initiated;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged fragmentary view of the assembly, with the latchmember in the position shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7B is an enlarged fragmentary view of the assembly, with the latchmember in the position shown in FIG. 6B;

FIG. 7C is an enlarged fragmentary view of the assembly, with the latchmember in the position shown in FIG. 6C;

FIG. 7D is an enlarged fragmentary view of the assembly, with the latchmember in the position shown in FIG. 6D;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a mount bracket included inthe assembly, according to an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 9A is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the locking device ofthe assembly shown in FIGS. 1-7D, with the included thermally responsivemember and the locking member in a non-actuated position; and

FIG. 9B is a view similar to FIG. 9A, but with the thermally responsivemember and the locking member shown in an actuated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a self-standing range 10 (partially shown)incorporating an assembly 12 for locking an oven door according to theprinciples of the present invention. Range 10 includes a self-cleaningoven 14 and a plurality of burners 16 (one shown) disposed above theoven 14. Range 10 includes a range body 18 having a pair of side walls(not shown), a back wall (not shown), a front wall 20 and a top 22.Range 10 further includes an oven top wall 24 which is spaced a fixeddistance below the top 22 of the range body 18. An oven cavity 26 isdefined by the oven top wall 24, the side walls (not shown) of the rangebody 18, a cavity back wall (not shown) and a bottom (not shown). One ormore heating elements (not shown) are disposed therein for purposes ofheating the oven cavity 26. An oven door 28, having a handle 30 and anoptional window 32, is hingedly mounted to the body 18 of the range 10so that a user holding handle 30 can move the door 28 between open andclosed positions. When the door 28 is closed, the oven cavity 26 isclosed.

With reference to FIGS. 2-5, the particular features of the assembly 12for locking the oven door 28 are discussed in greater detail. Assembly12 includes a mount bracket 34, that can be made of metal, secured tothe range body 18. Mount bracket 34 includes a base 36, a pair of sideflanges 38 extending upwardly from the base 36 and a front flange 40extending upwardly from the base 36. Front flange 40 can include aplurality of apertures 42 and can be attached to the front wall 20 ofrange body 18 by a plurality of fasteners (not shown).

The mount bracket 34 further includes a cradle 44 that extends below thebase 36 as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Cradle 44 can include a firstplurality of circumferentially spaced slots 46 and a second plurality ofcircumferentially spaced slots 48. As best seen in FIG. 3, the slots 46can be disposed in a circular pattern having a relatively smallerdiameter and the slots 48 can be disposed in a circular pattern having arelatively larger diameter. Also, the slots 46 can be offsetcircumferentially relative to slots 48. The function of slots 46 and 48is discussed subsequently. A locking device 50 is disposed at leastpartially within cradle 44. The locking device 50 includes a thermallyresponsive element 52 that can be a bimetallic, snap-action disk asshown in the illustrated embodiment. The thermally responsive element 52is shown in the actuated position in FIG. 4. The non-actuated andactuated positions of element 52 are discussed subsequently withreference to FIGS. 9A and 9B.

The locking device 50 further includes a locking member 54 which cancomprise a pin, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Locking member54 can include a cylindrical body portion 56 and at least one tab 58extending outwardly from the body 56. The locking device 50 can alsoinclude a resilient member 60 which can be a coil spring as shown in theillustrated embodiment. The thermally responsive element 52 can includean aperture 62 formed therein which is effective for receiving thelocking member 54. As best shown in FIG. 4, tabs 58 of the lockingmember 54 are disposed above the thermally responsive element 52 and aresized such that they extend radially beyond the resilient member 60, sothat the locking member 54 and resilient member 60 can exert forces onone another as subsequently discussed. Tabs 58 also permit the thermallyresponsive element 52 to push locking member 54 upward when thethermally responsive element 52 is actuated. Resilient member 60 isdisposed between the tabs 58 of locking member 54 and the base 36 ofmount bracket 34.

The base 36 can include mount structures 64 and 66, each extendingupwardly from the base 36. Mount structures 64 and 66 can be used tomount a switch 68 on mount bracket 34 at a position above the base 36.The mount structure 64 can include a tab 70 having an aperture 72 formedtherein, which can be a round hole. The structure 66 can include anupwardly extending bayonet portion 74. Switch 68 can include a pluralityof apertures 76 formed therein and can be mounted to the mount bracket36 as follows. Switch 68 can be attached to the mount structure 64 witha conventional fastener, such as rivet 78, which extends through one ofthe apertures 76 formed in switch 68 and the aperture 72 formed in thetab 70 of mount structure 64. The bayonet portion 74 of the mountstructure 66 can protrude through the other aperture 76 formed in switch68. Switch 68 can further include an actuation member 80, movablebetween an open position when the oven door 28 of range 10 is closed anda closed position when the oven door 28 is open, wherein the switch 68is actuated and can turn on an oven light.

Mount structure 64 can include a notch 82 formed therein which iseffective for receiving a door sensor 84, which can comprise a steppedrod as shown in the illustrated embodiment. A forward portion 86 of therod can extend through an aperture 88 formed in the front flange 40 ofbase 36 of mount bracket 34. The forward portion 86 of door sensor 84can receive a resilient member 90 which is disposed in contactingengagement with the oven door 28 when it is closed. An upper portion 92of the door sensor 84 can be received within the notch 82 formed in themount structure 64. A rear portion 94 of sensor 84 can extend through anaperture 96 formed in a tab 98 extending upwardly from the base 36 ofmount bracket 34. The rear portion 94 of door sensor 84 can receive aresilient member 100, which can comprise a coil spring as shown in theillustrated embodiment, with the member 100 extending between tab 98 anda first sloping portion 102 of the door sensor 84. The length ofresilient member 100 is sized such that, when the oven door 28 isclosed, member 100 is compressed. When the door 28 is open, member 100exerts a force on the sloping portion 102 of door sensor 84, moving thesensor 84 forward such that a second sloping portion 104 of sensor 84contacts the actuating member 80 of switch 68, closing switch 68, andturning on an oven light (not shown). Door sensor 84 and the associatedswitch 68, rivet 78 and resilient members 90 and 100 are optional.

Assembly 12 can further include a second mount switch 68 having aplurality of apertures 76 formed therein and an actuating member 80which is movable between an open position and a closed position, whereinthe switch 68 is actuated. The second switch 68 is mounted to mountbracket 34 in a manner similar to that discussed previously with respectto the first switch 68. Mount bracket 34 can include a mount structure106 extending upwardly from the base 36 of mount bracket 34 which caninclude a tab 108 and a hole 110 formed in tab 108. Mount bracket 34also includes a mount structure 112 having an upwardly extending bayonetportion 114. Switch 68 can be attached to mount structure 106 by aconventional fastener, such as rivet 78, which passes through one of theapertures 76 formed in switch 68 and through the aperture 110 formed intab 108. The bayonet portion 114 of the mount structure 112 passesthrough the other aperture 76 of switch 68. Both switches 68 aredisposed above the base 36 of mount bracket 34 so that the temperatureof switches 68 is lower, during cooking and self-cleaning cycles, thenwould otherwise be the case if switches 68 were mounted directly to thebase 36. Accordingly, it is not necessary to position an insulatingmaterial between switches 68 and mount bracket 34. The distance thatswitches 68 are disposed above base 36 can vary with application. In oneembodiment, this distance is about 0.375 inch. When the actuating member80 of the second switch 68 is closed, as subsequently discussed, theswitch 68 is actuated indicating that the oven door 28 is latched andforced to a closed position against the front wall 20 of the range body18. When this switch 68 is actuated, the oven self-cleaning cycle can beinitiated.

Assembly 12 can further include a bridge member 116 that spans across anopen top of the cradle 44 and can be secured to the base 36 of mountbracket 34 by a plurality of extruded holes 118 formed in the bridgemember 116 and corresponding ones of a plurality of apertures 120 formedin the base 36 of mount bracket 34. The extruded holes 118 can be flaredbelow the base 36 of mount bracket 34. Alternately, conventional boltsand nuts can be used to secure bridge member 116 to base 36. Bridgemember 116 includes a guide hole 122 formed therein which receives thelocking member 54.

Assembly 12 can further include a latch member 124 having an aperture126 formed therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the aperture 126 isgenerally V-shaped, with the aperture having first 128 and second 130legs which communicate with one another. Aperture 126 further includesan arcuate transition portion 132 at the intersection of legs 128 and130. Latch member 124 can further include an extruded hole 134 formedtherein, such that a protruding member 136, which can be cylindrical asshown in the illustrated embodiment, extends away from a bottom surface138 of the latch member 124 toward the base 36 of mount bracket 34 asshown in FIG. 5.

Latch member 124 can include a hook 140, which is substantially L-shapedin the illustrated embodiment. The hook 140 includes a first portion142, which contacts the oven door 28 when the latch member 124 and thedoor 28 are in the positions shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C. Hook 140 furtherincludes a second portion 144, extending away from portion 142 that iseffective for pulling the oven door 28 from the position shown in FIG.6B to the position shown in FIG. 6C as subsequently discussed.

Assembly 12 can further include a handle lever 146 and a handle 148 thatcan be removably secured to handle lever 146. For example, the handle148 can snap onto handle lever 146. The fact that handle 148 isremovably secured to handle lever 146, provides an advantage relative tohandles and handle levers that are integral with one another, since themanufacturers of different models of oven ranges can use handles havinga configuration and color that are compatible with their oven range.Handle lever 146 can have a stepped configuration, as shown in theillustrative embodiment, with lever 146 including an upper portion 150,a lower portion 152 and a transition portion 154 interconnecting theupper portion 150 and the lower portion 152. Lever 146 can furtherinclude a tab 156 having an aperture formed therein and tab 156 can beintegral with the transition portion 154 of lever 146. Tab 156 iseffective for receiving one end of a resilient member 158, which cancomprise a coil spring as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Theopposite end of the member 158 can be received by a tab 160 (best seenin FIG. 2), having a notch formed therein, which extends upwardly fromthe base 36 of the mount bracket 34. Resilient member 158 is effectivefor retaining the handle lever 146 in its various steady statepositions, without a user exerting a force on handle 148, and alsoprovides the customary “feel” to a user when moving the door 28 betweenthe open and closed positions. The lower portion 152 of handle lever 146includes apertures 162 and 164 formed therein.

The handle lever 146 and latch member 124 are pivotally coupled to themount bracket 34 by a connecting member 166, which can comprise a rivetas shown in the illustrative embodiment. Connecting member 166 caninclude a relatively larger diameter head 168 that is sized so that itcannot pass through aperture 162 formed in handle lever 146. Connectingmember 166 can also include a relatively smaller diameter portion 170that passes through aperture 162 in handle lever 146, through aperture126 formed in latch member 124 and through an aperture 172 formed in thebase 36 of mount bracket 34. The lower portion 170 of connecting member166 can be enlarged somewhat (not shown), in a manner known in the art,so that it is larger than aperture 172, thereby preventing theconnecting member 166 from being pulled upward through aperture 172.Connecting member 166 can further include a shoulder 174 disposedintermediate head 168 and lower portion 170 and having a relativelylarger diameter than the lower portion 170. As a result, the shoulder174 passes through aperture 162 formed in the handle lever 146 andaperture 126 formed in latch member 124, but does not pass through theaperture 172 formed in base 36 of mount bracket 34. The shoulder 174 hasa thickness that is slightly greater than the thickness of the latchmember 124, thereby permitting latch member 124 to be disposedintermediate base 36 of mount bracket 34 and the lower portion 152 ofhandle lever 146, and to provide clearance for latch member 124 to moverelative to handle lever 146 as subsequently discussed in greaterdetail.

Assembly 12 further includes a connecting member 176 that can comprise apin having a relatively smaller diameter upper portion 178 that extendsthrough the aperture 164 in handle lever 146 and a relatively largerdiameter lower portion 180 that has a diameter larger than that ofaperture 164 and extends through the aperture 126 formed in latch member124 and into an aperture 182 formed in the base 36 of mount bracket 34.The upper portion 178 of connecting member 176 can be enlarged somewhat(not shown), in a manner known in the art, with the combination of theenlarged upper portion 178 and the lower portion 180 preventing member176 from disengaging from handle lever 146. In the illustratedembodiment, aperture 182 has an arcuate shape and can be generallycrescent-shaped as shown in FIG. 3.

The protruding member 136 of latch member 124 extends into, and canextend through, an aperture 184 formed in the base 36 of mount bracket34. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7D, 9A and 9B, aperture 184 isgenerally T-shaped and includes a first, arcuate portion 186 and asecond portion 188 communicating with and extending away from thearcuate portion 186. The arcuate portion 186 of aperture 184 includesfirst 190 and second 192 ends. In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG.8, the assembly 12 can include a mount bracket 34 ahaving a generallyL-shaped aperture 184 aformed in the base 36 aof mount bracket 34 ainlieu of the generally T-shaped aperture 184 formed in the base 36 ofmount bracket 34. In this embodiment, the latch member 124 cannot rotateto the position shown in FIG. 6D as subsequently discussed. Aperture 184aincludes a first, arcuate portion 186 aand a second portion 188acommunicating with portion 186 aand extending away one end of portion186 a.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, assembly 12 includes a heat transfermember 200 that can be made of metal. Heat transfer member 200 includesa first, lower end 202 secured to the oven top wall 24 by a conventionalfastener, such as bolt 204. Heat transfer member 200 further includes anupper portion 206 that can be secured to the cradle 44 of mount bracket34 by a grommet 208. The locking member 54 can slide within grommet 208.As shown in FIG. 4, the upper portion 206 of heat transfer member 200and the cradle 44 of mount bracket 34 are disposed above the oven topwall 24. During oven cooking and self-cleaning cycles, heat istransferred from the oven wall 24 to the heat transfer member 200 andthen to cradle 44. The slots 46 and 48 formed in cradle 44 inhibitconduction heat transfer to the base 36 of mount bracket 34 and otherportions of assembly 12 including switches 68, which helps to maintainthe operating temperature of switches 68 within an acceptable range. Thecircumferential offset of slots 46 relative to slots 48 helps inhibitconduction heat transfer to the base 36 of mount bracket 34 because thisconfiguration causes heat to be conducted along a longer, staggered pathfrom the bottom of cradle 44 to base 36 than would exist if slots 46 and48 would be aligned with one another. This also enhances the heattransfer from cradle 44 to the thermally responsive element 52. Cradle44 can be made of metal and can be integral with the base 36 of mountbracket 34 as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Alternately, cradle44 can be made separately from base 36. In this instance, base 36 caninclude an aperture that receives cradle 44, with cradle 44 beingsecured to base 36. Also, the slots 46 and 48, which act as a “heatbrake” by inhibiting conduction heat transfer, can be omitted. Instead,cradle 44 can be made, at least substantially, of a material having arelatively low thermal conductivity to inhibit conduction heat transferto base 36 in lieu of slots 46 and 48. One type of suitable materialhaving relatively low thermal conductivity is phenolic materials. Inthis embodiment, it is necessary to provide other means (not shown) ofconducting heat from heat transfer member 200 to the thermallyresponsive element 52. These means can include a metallic insert (notshown) in the otherwise phenolic cradle that contacts both heat transfermember 200 and element 52. The actuation of the thermally responsiveelement 52 and the resulting movement of locking member 54 will bediscussed subsequently in conjunction with FIGS. 9A and 9B.

The operation of assembly 12 is discussed further with reference toFIGS. 6A-6D and 7A-7D. The oven door 28 includes an inner wall 220 thatcloses the oven cavity 24 when the door 28 is closed as shown in FIGS.6C and 7C. Door 28 further includes an outer wall 222, with the inner220 and outer 222 walls being interconnected by sidewalls (not shown) ofthe oven door 28. Door 28 further includes an interior structure 224that is disposed intermediate the inner wall 220 and outer wall 222. Theinterior structure 224 includes an aperture 226 formed therein andfurther includes a surface 228 disposed proximate the aperture 226 and asurface 230 that faces the outer wall 222 of door 28. The interiorstructure 224 can assume a variety of configurations and can be securedto one or more of the inner 220, outer 222 and side walls of the ovendoor 28.

When the handle lever 146 and latch member 124 are positioned as shownin FIG. 6A, the hook 140 of latch member 124 passes through an aperture234 formed in the front wall 20 of range body 18, through an aperture236 formed in the inner wall 220 of door 28 and through the aperture 226of interior structure 224. In this position, hook 140 of latch member124 is not in contacting engagement with the interior structure 224 ofthe oven door 28. Accordingly, in this position, the oven door 28 can beopened and can move between open and closed positions. Although door 28is shown in a partially open position in FIG. 6A, in close proximity tothe front wall 20 of range body 18, the door 28 can also be closedagainst wall 20 with handle lever 146 and latch member 124 in thisposition, depending upon the design of the particular door. Cooking istypically done with handle lever 146 and latch member 124 in theposition shown in FIG. 6A as the user is free to open and close door 28as required during the cooking cycle.

With the handle lever 146 and latch member 124 positioned as shown inFIG. 6A, the protruding member 136 of latch member 124 is disposedwithin the aperture 184 formed in base 36 of mount bracket 34, as bestseen in FIG. 7A. More particularly, the protruding member 136 isdisposed within end 190 of the arcuate portion 186 of aperture 184. Therelatively larger, lower portion 180 of connecting member 176 extendsthrough leg 128 of the aperture 126 formed in latch member 124 and intoaperture 182 formed in the base 36 of mount bracket 34. The shoulder 174of connecting member 166 extends through the aperture 162 in handlelever 146 and the aperture 126 in latch member 124, at a positionproximate the arcuate transition portion 132 of aperture 126, and thelower portion 170 of connecting member 166 extends through the aperture172 in base 36 of mount bracket 34.

When a user wants to initiate a self-cleaning cycle for oven 14, theuser must rotate handle lever 146 from the position shown in FIG. 6A tothe position shown in FIG. 6C, which is a rotation in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in FIGS. 6A and 6C. Latch member 124 rotates withhandle lever 146 through an initial arc between the positions of handlelever 146 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. When the handle lever 146 reachesthe position shown in FIG. 6B, the hook 140 of latch member 124 contactsthe surface 228 of the interior structure 224 of the oven door 28, whichprevents the latch member 124 from rotating any further. With the handlelever 146 and latch member 124 oriented as shown in FIG. 6B, theshoulder 174 of connecting member 166 is disposed in substantially thesame position within aperture 126 of latch member 124 as best seen inFIG. 7B. However, the position of the protruding member 136 of latchmember 124 within the arcuate portion 186 of the aperture 184 formed inbase 36 of mount bracket 34 is different than the position shown in FIG.6A, such that protruding member 136 is aligned with the second portion188 of aperture 184. The lower portion 180 of connecting member 176remains in substantially the same position within leg 128 of theaperture 126 formed in latch member 124 but is in a different positionwithin the arcuate aperture 182 formed in the base 36 of mount bracket34. Connecting member 176 moves in an arc within aperture 182 as handlelever 146 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 6A to that shown inFIG. 6B and as it is rotated further to the position shown in FIG. 6C.Latch member 124 is in a latched position as shown in FIG. 6B and a usercannot open the oven door 28 with the latch member 124 in this position.

As a user continues to rotate the handle 148 and handle lever 146 pastthe position shown in FIG. 6B, the contacting engagement between latchmember 124 and the interior structure 224 of oven door 28 prevents thelatch member 124 from rotating. During the rotation of handle 148 andhandle lever 146 between the positions shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, theconnecting member 176 is in contacting engagement with an edge of theaperture 126 in latch member 124 and exerts a force on latch member 124,causing the latch member 124 to move rearward relative to the base 36 ofmount bracket 34. The translation of latch member 124 relative to mountbracket 34 can occur since the protruding member 136 of latch member 124moves rearward from a position in the arcuate portion 186 of aperture184 to a rearward position in the second portion 188 of aperture 184,which extends rearward from the arcuate portion 186. Also, when thelatch member 124 translates rearwardly, the connecting member 166 isdisposed in a forward portion of the leg 130 of the aperture 126 formedin latch member 124.

When latch member 124 translates rearward, the hook 140 of latch member124 is in contacting engagement with the surface 230 of the interiorstructure 224 of the oven door 28, and forces the oven door 28 to movebetween the latched position shown in FIG. 6B and the position shown inFIG. 6C where the oven door 28 is in a latched position and is closedagainst the front wall 20 of the range body 18. The door is forced 28against front wall 20 due to the rearward movement of latch member 124.A gasket (not shown) can be disposed between the front wall 20 of rangebody 18 and the inner wall 220 of the oven door 28 so that the oven door28 is in sealing engagement with the front wall 20. With the latchmember 124 in this position, handle lever 146 contacts the actuationmember 80 of the adjacent switch 68 as shown in FIG. 6C, which providesan electrical signal that the oven door 28 is closed thereby permittingthe initiation of a self-cleaning cycle.

Accordingly, the cooperation of the connecting member 176 with theaperture 126 in latch member 124 and the aperture 182 in the base 36 ofmount bracket 34, and the cooperation of the protruding member 136 oflatch member 124 with the aperture 184 in the base 36 of mount bracket34, in combination with the pivotal coupling of handle lever 146 andlatch member 124 to mount bracket 34 with connecting member 166, permitsthe handle lever 136 and latch member 124 to move relative to bracket 34between the positions shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C.

During a cooking or self-cleaning cycle, heat is transferred from theoven top wall 24 to the heat transfer member 200 and to cradle 44 andthe thermally responsive element 52, which is a bimetallic disk in theillustrated embodiment and is disposed within cradle 44. When sufficientheat has been transferred to the thermally responsive element 52,element 52 is actuated and snaps upwardly from a non-actuated, steadystate position shown in FIG. 9A, where element 52 has a downwardlybulging or concave shape, to the actuated position shown in FIG. 9B,where element 52 has an upwardly bulging or convex shape. This forcesthe locking member 54 to move upward so that it protrudes above thebridge member 116 secured to base 36 of mount bracket 34 and preventsthe handle lever 146 and latch member 124 from rotating from theposition shown in FIG. 6C toward the position shown in FIGS. 6B or 6A.When this occurs, the oven door 28 is in a latched and locked positionand cannot be opened.

The thermally responsive element 52 is designed to actuate during aself-cleaning cycle to prevent a user from opening oven door 28 duringthis cycle, thereby protecting the user from the very high temperatureswithin oven 14 during a self-cleaning cycle. The thermally responsiveelement 52 is not designed to actuate during normal cooking cycles.However, if element 52 inadvertently actuates during a long andrelatively high temperature baking cycle, for example during the cookingof a turkey, or during a relatively high temperature broiling cycle, forexample during the broiling of fish, assembly 12 includes a featurewhich prevents “nuisance locking” and the resultant overcooking of thefood within oven 14. If handle lever 146 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 6A and 6C, after thethermally responsive element 52 has actuated and locking member 54protrudes above bridge member 116, the handle lever 146 will contactlocking member 54 before handle lever 146 reaches the position shown inFIG. 6C. Accordingly, handle lever 146 cannot be locked and the user isfree to rotate handle lever 146 in a clockwise direction back to theposition shown in FIG. 6A so that door 28 can be opened.

Assembly 12 includes another feature that prevents initiation of theself-cleaning cycle of oven 14 when the door 28 is open, when assembly12 includes mount bracket 34 and the T-shaped aperture 184 formed in thebase 36 of mount bracket 34 (this feature is not available when assembly12 includes mount bracket 34 aand the L-shaped aperture 184 aformed inbase 36 aof bracket 34 a). This feature operates as follows. If ovendoor 28 is open and a user rotates handle lever 146 in acounterclockwise direction, handle lever 146 and latch member cannotrotate past the position shown in FIG. 7D since the protruding member136 contacts the end 192 of the aperture 184 in the base 36 of mountbracket 34 and the connecting member 176 cannot move with the arcuateaperture 182 in base 36 as it is restrained from such movement byaperture 126 in latch member 124. As shown in FIG. 6D, the handle lever146 is spaced apart from the actuation member 80 of the adjacent switch68 so that switch 68 cannot be actuated and the self-cleaning cycle ofoven 14 cannot be initiated.

While the foregoing description has set forth one or more embodiments ofthe present invention in particular detail, it must be understood thatnumerous modifications, substitutions and changes can be undertakenwithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined by theensuing claims. The invention is therefore not limited to specificembodiments as described, but is only limited as defined by thefollowing claims.

1. An assembly for locking an oven door of a range in a closed positionthat closes an oven cavity defined in part by an oven top wall, the ovendoor being movably mounted on a body of the range, said assemblycomprising: a mount bracket adapted to be secured to the range body,said mount bracket having a base and a cradle protruding below said baseand disposed above the oven top wall; a latch member coupled to saidmount bracket for movement relative thereto; a locking device disposedat least partially within said cradle, said locking device including athermally responsive element and a locking member coupled to saidthermally responsive element; a heat transfer member having a first endadapted to be secured to the oven top wall and a second end secured tosaid cradle; and wherein said locking member is operably effective forpreventing said latch member from moving from a position wherein theoven door is latched and forced against the body of the range by saidlatch member toward a position wherein the door can be opened, when saidthermally responsive member is actuated.
 2. An assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein: said locking member includes tabs that engage saidthermally responsive member and wherein said locking member moves upwardand protrudes above said base when said thermally responsive member isactuated, wherein said latch member is prevented from moving from theposition wherein the oven door is latched and forced against the body ofthe range toward a position wherein the door can be opened.
 3. Anassembly as recited in claim 2, wherein: said cradle is dome-shaped; andsaid thermally responsive member is a bi-metallic disk, said bi-metallicdisk being disposed within and supported by said cradle.
 4. An assemblyas recited in claim 3, wherein: said cradle includes a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced slots formed therein.
 5. An assembly as recitedin claim 3, wherein: said locking member is in a pin.
 6. An assembly asrecited in claim 1, further comprising: a handle lever pivotally coupledto said base for rotation relative to said base, said handle lever beingcoupled to said latch member and operably effective for moving saidlatch member when said handle is rotated manually.
 7. An assembly asrecited in claim 1, further comprising: an electrical switch mounted onsaid mount bracket at a position above said base.
 8. An assembly asrecited in claim 7, wherein: said electrical switch includes anactuation member movable between an open position when the door is openand a closed position when the door is closed, wherein said switch isactuated.
 9. An assembly as recited in claim 6, further comprising: ahandle, wherein said handle snaps onto said handle lever.
 10. Anassembly for locking an oven door of a range in a closed position thatcloses an oven cavity defined in part by an oven top wall, the oven doorbeing movably mounted on a body of the range, said assembly comprising:a mount bracket adapted to be secured to the range body, said mountbracket comprising a base and first, second and third apertures formedtherein; a handle lever having first and second apertures formedtherein; a latch member disposed intermediate said mount bracket andsaid handle lever, said latch member including an aperture formedtherein, a first surface facing said mount bracket and a protrudingmember extending away from said first surface toward said mount bracketand into said first aperture in said mount bracket, said protrudingmember being movable within said first aperture in said mount bracket; afirst connecting member extending through said first aperture in saidhandle, said aperture in said latch member and said second aperture insaid mount bracket, said first connecting member pivotally coupling saidhandle lever and said latch member to said mount bracket; a secondconnecting member extending through said second aperture in said handlelever, through said aperture in said latch member and into said thirdaperture in said mount bracket, said second connecting member beingmovable within said aperture in said latch member and said thirdaperture in said mount bracket; wherein the pivotal coupling of saidhandle lever and said latch member to said mount bracket with said firstconnecting member in combination with the movement of said protrudingmember within said first aperture in said mount bracket, the movement ofsaid second connecting member within said third aperture in said mountbracket and the positioning of said second connecting member within saidsecond aperture in said handle lever, permit said handle lever and saidlatch member to rotate together from a first position wherein the ovendoor can be opened to a second position wherein said latch membercontacts the oven door and the oven door is latched and cannot beopened, and to permit said latch member to translate relative to saidhandle lever and said mount bracket from the second position to a thirdposition, as said handle lever rotates beyond the second position,wherein the oven door is latched and forced against the body of therange.
 11. An assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein: said firstaperture in said mount bracket has a first arcuate portion and a secondportion communicating with said arcuate portion and extending rearwardlyaway from said second portion; said protruding member moves within saidarcuate portion of said first aperture in said mount bracket as saidhandle lever and said latch member rotate from the first to the secondposition and said protruding portion moves rearwardly within said secondportion of said first aperture in said mount bracket as said latchmember translates from the second position to the third position.
 12. Anassembly as recited in claim 11, wherein: said aperture in said latchmember includes a first leg and a second leg communicating with saidfirst leg, said first leg and said second legs forming an angletherebetween; said first connecting member is disposed within said firstleg and said second connecting member is movable within said second legas said latch member moves between the first, second and thirdpositions.
 13. An assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein: said arcuateportion of said first aperture in said mount bracket has first andsecond ends; and said second portion of said first aperture in saidmount bracket intersects said arcuate portion intermediate said firstand second ends.
 14. An assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein: saidfirst aperture in said mount bracket is generally T-shaped; saidaperture in said latch member is generally V-shaped; and said thirdaperture in said mount bracket is generally crescent-shaped.
 15. Anassembly as recited in claim 10, wherein: said first aperture in saidmount bracket is generally L-shaped; said aperture in said latch memberis generally V-shaped; and said third aperture in said mount bracket isgenerally crescent-shaped.
 16. An assembly as recited in claim 10,wherein: said mount bracket further comprises a cradle protruding belowsaid base and disposed above the oven top wall, said assembly furthercomprising: a locking device disposed at least partially within saidcradle, said locking device including a thermally responsive element anda locking member coupled to said thermally responsive element; a heattransfer member having a first end secured to the oven top wall and asecond end secured to said cradle; and wherein said locking memberprevents said latch member from moving from the third position towardthe first position when said thermally responsive member is actuated.17. An assembly for locking an oven door of a range in a closed positionthat closes an oven cavity defined in part by an oven top wall, the ovendoor being mounted on a body of the range and movable between open andclosed positions, said assembly comprising: a mount bracket adapted tobe secured to the range body, said mount bracket comprising a base andfirst, second and third apertures formed therein; a handle lever havingan aperture formed therein; a latch member disposed intermediate saidmount bracket and said handle lever, said latch member including anaperture formed therein, and a protruding member extending toward saidmount bracket; a first connecting member pivotally coupling said handlelever and said latch member to said mount bracket; a second connectingmember coupled to said handle lever; wherein said protruding membercooperates with said first aperture in said mount bracket and saidsecond connecting member cooperates with said aperture in said latchmember and said second aperture in said mount bracket, which, incombination with the pivotal coupling of said handle lever and saidlatch member to said mount bracket with said first connecting memberpermits the handle lever and latch member to rotate together from afirst position wherein the oven door can be opened to a second positionwherein said latch member contacts the oven door and the oven door islatched and cannot be opened, and to permit said latch member totranslate relative to said handle lever and said mount bracket from thesecond position to a third position, as said handle lever rotates beyondthe second position, wherein the oven door is latched and forced againstthe body of the range.
 18. A range comprising: a body including an oventop wall; an oven cavity disposed within said body; an oven door movablymounted on said body wherein said oven door can be moved between an openposition and a closed position wherein said oven cavity is closed; amount bracket secured to the range body, said mount bracket having abase and a cradle protruding below said base and disposed above saidopen top wall; a latch member coupled to said mount bracket for movementrelative thereto; a locking device disposed at least partially withinsaid cradle, said locking device including a thermally responsiveelement and a locking member coupled to said thermally responsiveelement; a heat transfer member having a first end secured to said oventop wall and a second end secured to said cradle; and wherein saidlocking member is operably effective for preventing said latch memberfrom moving from a position wherein said oven door is latched and forcedagainst said body by said latch member toward a position wherein saidoven door can be opened, when said thermally responsive member isactuated.
 19. An assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein: said lockingmember includes tabs that engage said thermally responsive member andwherein said locking member moves upward and protrudes above said basewhen said thermally responsive member is actuated, wherein said latchmember is prevented from moving toward a position wherein the oven doorcan be opened.
 20. An assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein: saidcradle is dome-shaped; and said thermally responsive member is abi-metallic disk, said bi-metallic disk being disposed within andsupported by said cradle.
 21. An assembly as recited in claim 20,wherein: said cradle includes a plurality of circumferentially spacedslots formed therein.
 22. An assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein:said locking member is in a pin.
 23. An assembly as recited in claim 18,further comprising: a handle lever pivotally coupled to said base forrotation relative to said base, said handle lever being coupled to saidlatch member and operably effective for moving said latch member whensaid handle is rotated manually.
 24. An assembly as recited in claim 18,further comprising: an electrical switch mounted on said mount bracketat a position above said base.
 25. An assembly as recited in claim 24,wherein: said electrical switch includes an actuation member movablebetween an open position when the door is open and a closed positionwhen the door is closed, wherein said switch is actuated.
 26. Anassembly as recited in claim 23, further comprising: a handle, whereinsaid handle snaps onto said handle lever.